Arrests Made by New Violent Crime & Gang Task Force

By
7 Eyewitness News Staff
By
news@wbbjtv.com

MADISON COUNTY, Tenn.--With violent crime and gang activity on the rise, the 26th and 28th judicial districts have put together a special gang task force.

The Multijursdictional Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, comprised of officers from several counties, raided several locations in Madison County on Friday night. Along with state and federal officers, task force members are looking for wanted gang members and suspected criminals. Officers raided different businesses and homes in the county. The task force plan to conduct similar raids in other areas in the future.

Investigators with the Gang Task Force confirmed to 7 Eyewitness News multiple arrests were made Friday night with several weapons and drugs recovered in warrants served during their operation. Officials said many of the cases are still being investigated.

The program is a first for the state of Tennessee and the pilot program has been in the works since November of last year. The goal is to better equip law enforcement in the area to tackle gang violence in various communities.

The newly formed gang task force is a partnership between officers from several counties--Madison, Henderson, Chester, Haywood, Crockett and Gibson--as well as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and federal agencies.